The Matibabu application is one of the projects on boarded by Makerere University School of Public Health - ResilientAfrica Network (RAN). It was selected among the first round of projects for support under the RAN innovation acceleration program after realizing it had high potential to examine and diagnose malaria at relatively low costs and with no pain involved.
Malaria is one of the largest causes of morbidity and mortality across the globe. The disease leads to series of losses in productivity and quality of life.According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 3.2 billion people – almost half of the world's population – are at risk of malaria. In 2013, there were about 198 million malaria cases (with an uncertainty range of 124 million to 283 million) and an estimated 584 000 malaria deaths (with an uncertainty range of 367 000 to 755 000)., Increased prevention and control measures have led to a reduction in malaria mortality rates by 47% globally since 2000 and by 54% in the WHO African Region.People living in the poorest countries are the most vulnerable to malaria. In 2013, 90% of all malaria deaths occurred in the WHO African Region, mostly among children under 5 years of age.
Currently Malaria is being identified by examining under the microscope a drop of the
patient's blood, spread out as a "blood smear" on a microscope slide.
Prior to examination, the specimen is stained (most often with the Giemsa
stain) to give the parasites a distinctive appearance. however – this is still a major challenge especially considering the fact
that it’s costly in terms of power, many
reagents are needed to identify and diagnose malaria; microscopes which are also currently few in
hospitals with a rate of…., among others.
Meet the team behind the Matibabu Mobile Phone Application that have developed a new solution to diagnose Malaria.
The Code 8 team will amaze you with their unique Matibabu app that does not require body pricking or any blood tests while testing for malaria.
The brilliant innovators Josiah Kavuna, Brian Gitta, Joshua Businge and Simon Lubamba all from Makerere University are the brains behind the Matibabu Innovation in Uganda. They created a smart phone app for windows phones that uses a custom piece of hardware called a Matiscope.
The Matiscope is a finger clamp with a built –in infrared light source and sensor that attaches to the phone as explained in the video.
According to team leader , Josiah Kavuma, the idea basically works
with red light.Light is triggered into the skin to reach red blood cells in order to determine one’s malaria status.
At EA RILab, the Matibabu
application won a grant of
dollars and was selected among the first round of projects for support
under the RAN innovation acceleration program. The team has also won the
RAN Take- on competition with the best
speech and carried out need finding in Apach in partnership with RAN.
Matibabu takes its name from the Swahili word for medical
clinic which represents a significant input in testing for malaria.
Matibabu is designed to provide a more affordable and accessible testing option with no pain involved and the team believes it has the potential to reduce the socioeconomic costs of malaria for 300-500 people.
Their initial inspiration to take on the Matibabu project was after Gitta, one of the team members was diagnosed with the disease (malaria) and experienced it himself.
“I hated needles and kept thinking of ways people could be diagnosed without pain,” says Brian.
He thus teamed up with friends and fellow students that is to say, Josiah K, Joshua B and Simon Lubamba and together they developed the Matibabu app.
Matibabu is designed to provide a more affordable and accessible testing option with no pain involved and the team believes it has the potential to reduce the socioeconomic costs of malaria for 300-500 people.
Their initial inspiration to take on the Matibabu project was after Gitta, one of the team members was diagnosed with the disease (malaria) and experienced it himself.
“I hated needles and kept thinking of ways people could be diagnosed without pain,” says Brian.
He thus teamed up with friends and fellow students that is to say, Josiah K, Joshua B and Simon Lubamba and together they developed the Matibabu app.
Despite the fact the project is in it’s late stages of development. It has already yielded positive results with an estimated efficiency of 60%.
The team has also won several awards which include the UN award, grant from RAN and Women empowerment award.
“Coming up with the product requires different components which in most cases are not available on the market which requires us to come up with our own producer, something that tends to be costly” says Brian.
Besides RAN, the team has also partnered with several other organizations which include Microsoft , Uganda women network and Makerere University.
Unlike many youth, they live with passion and determination to deliver mass production of the products needed to invent the application, carryout medical tests with the product, quick diagnosis of people and above all deliver with timelines.
According to the team, the Matibabu application is a dream they look forward to achieving by the end of this year and will be reflected in the life of many Ugandans.
Compiled by Communications and Engagement Department ResilientAfrica Network(RAN)
(Achiro Jennifer, Byomuhangi Owen,Musisi Henry, Nalunga Winnie and Nuwagaba Kenneth )
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